DODOMA: MINISTER for Industry and Trade Dr Ashatu Kijaji has announced the scrapping of 374 out of 380 levies, taxes and fees in its continued efforts to create friendly business environment.
Speaking to the business community in Dodoma during the meeting that focused on addressing challenges facing traders the minister said, through the business blue print, the remaining taxes that hinder smooth business will be resolved soon.
Speaking on inconveniences encountered by the business community when it comes to business licences in local authorities Dr Kijaji said the ministry is working to address it as it finalises the process to assign Business Registration and Licencing Agency (BRELA) to carry out the task.
“We started the implementation of the blueprint in 2019, a document that, among other things, enables us to review and assess the business environment. When we started there were 380 levies, taxes and fees on the list that were to be looked at, but we are now remaining with only six which will be cleared soon,” she said.
The blueprint provides the government’s main framework and it presents key challenges affecting the business environment in the country along with a set of recommendations for reform to put in place a more business friendly environment.
During the meeting, which was attended by Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Ms Rosemary Senyamule, members of the business community complained about the existence of multiple fees related to licences which have been posing a burden to traders.
Others are cumbersome pre-approval procedures, which create rent seeking opportunities, presence of a multiplicity and duplicity of processes, loopholes in some laws and regulations which are applied by regulators during inspection.
“We seek to put in place a framework for addressing regulatory hurdles and create a smart, functional and fair business regulatory regime in the country,” said Dr Kijaji.
Dr Kijaji called for preparation of booklets that contain the checklist of all taxes and fees which should be handed over to the Regional Commissioner so that authorities can revisit them in case any challenges that relate with the charges emerge.
As for licence issuance, the minister said all permits will now be issued by a single entity.
Before, Brela was responsible for issuing Class A licence while the councils were responsible for issuing Class B permit, an arrangement that raised complaints from the business community, as it involved a lot of bureaucracy, especially in payment of crop cess during their transportation.
For her part, RC Senyamule assured the minister of the regional administration’s commitment to have in place an arrangement where business operators from all walks of life carry out their business according to the laid down procedures for their improved social welfare.